The Power and Limitations of Ukraine’s M39 Rockets

Ukraine’s arsenal now includes the mighty M39 rockets, which are capable of causing immense destruction to helicopter regiments, supply convoys, and air-defense batteries. However, there are certain limitations to these rockets, particularly when it comes to destroying heavily protected combat vehicles like tanks.

The M39 Army Tactical Missile System is an impressive two-ton, 13-foot ballistic missile equipped with a solid rocket motor and a warhead capable of dispensing 950 grenade-sized M74 submunitions. Fired from a tracked M270 or wheeled High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System launcher, this missile, developed in the 1990s, can reach targets as far as 100 miles away with inertial guidance.

The United States Army possesses hundreds of expired or almost-expired M39 rockets in its arsenal. Recently, the Biden administration quietly shipped an undisclosed number of these rockets to Ukraine after inspecting their solid rocket motors.

In a remarkable display of power, three Ukrainian army HIMARS fired one M39 rocket each at an airfield near Berdyansk, which is currently under Russian occupation. Despite Russian air defenses, the rockets successfully bypassed them and scattered around 3,000 M74 submunitions on the airfield’s northern apron, resulting in the destruction of Russian Mil Mi-24 and Kamov Ka-52 attack helicopters. While the Ukrainian military claimed to have destroyed nine helicopters, analysts have confirmed the destruction of at least six. This attack has been labeled as “one of the most serious strikes of all time” in Russia’s 21-month war on Ukraine, according to Fighterbomber, a popular Russian Telegram channel.

The M39 rocket, with its one-pound, steel-and-tungsten M74 submunitions, is highly effective when attacking soft area targets. As U.S. Army Major James Hutton explained, upon impact and detonation, each grenade breaks up into numerous high-velocity steel fragments that can cause significant damage to targets like truck tires, missile rounds, thin-skinned vehicles, and radar antennas.

However, it is crucial not to use a million-dollar M39 rocket against a tank regiment. Hutton emphasizes that this submunition is not effective against armored vehicles. While a storm of M74 submunitions might impact a tank’s optics and, with some luck, penetrate the thin armor on top of the hull to damage the engine, it cannot be solely relied upon to halt an armored assault if the tanks are well-protected and dispersed.

This limitation led to the development of a new version of the ATACMS missile in the late 1990s. This version would have carried 13 guided anti-tank munitions, but it was later canceled due to cost-saving measures. However, the Biden Administration has assured Ukraine that it will provide ATACMS missiles to them without compromising U.S. military readiness. This suggests that expired or nearly-expired M39 rockets are eligible for transfer, along with old M48s equipped with 500-pound unitary warheads. Meanwhile, new M57 missiles will remain with U.S. forces.

The combination of M39 rockets and M48 missiles provides Ukraine’s approximately 60 M270 and HIMARS launchers with a range of options. M39’s M74 submunitions can effectively clear Russian airfields and logistical sites, while the M48 missile, with its penetrating warhead borrowed from the Harpoon anti-ship missile, can demolish buried bunkers and buildings. However, it is essential for the Ukrainians to have alternative munitions in their arsenal for direct engagement with Russian tanks.

Overall, while the M39 rockets are formidable weapons capable of inflicting significant damage to certain targets, their limitations against heavily armored vehicles underline the need for a well-rounded arsenal to effectively counter Russian aggression.